Case Study Volume: Facing the Challenges,
from United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World

English PDF, 10 MB

The third edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR3) and its accompanying case study volume, Facing the Challenges [PDF 10 MB] was launched at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey on March 16, 2009, by UNESCO's former Director General, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura. The development of the WWDR3, coordinated by the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), was a joint effort of the 26 UN agencies and entities which make up UN-Water, working in partnership with governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders.

One of the overarching objectives of WWAP is to assist countries in enhancing their national capacity for water resources assessment by building on existing strengths and experiences. This mission has always constituted an integral part of the World Water Development Reports, which have included the findings of case study development projects initiated in different geographic regions of the world. The case studies provide an in-depth analysis of the state of freshwater resources and related challenges that directly affect the livelihoods of people. Over the life of the programme to date, more than 54 countries have been covered at basin or national level. The increasing number of case studies necessitated the presentation of their findings separately. This first stand-alone volume of WWAP case studies, titled Facing the Challenges, includes 20 studies from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Latin America, where conditions of water-related stress and socio-economic settings vary widely. For more information on the case studies of the previous World Water Development Reports:

Latin America and the Caribbean:

Although endowed with abundant freshwater resources, the country faces a lack of comprehensive information, an inadequate legal and institutional framework, weak enforcement capacity, poor coordination among agencies and other obstacles to sound, sustainable water management. Cameroon is lagging on the Millennium Development Goals targets, in part because its water sector is highly fragmented and underfunded.

:: Cameroon case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 2-5.)

Receiving most of its lifeline water supply from the Nile River, the country is suffering from water-related natural hazards, disease and conflict, which put a heavy toll on sustainable socio-economic development and have led to deepening poverty.

:: Sudan case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 5-8.)

Relying on transboundary rivers, Swaziland would benefit from continued cooperation with its neighbours as well as strengthened water resources management legislation at home. These would help alleviate the heavy burden of poverty and disease as well as the country’s reliance on external funding in the water sector.

:: Swaziland case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 8-12.)

Amid economic growth and urbanization, this developing country has made big gains in water and sanitation coverage, as well as a shift towards long term sustainable practices, but faces mounting tensions between competing users.

:: Tunisia case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 12-15.)

Zambia is facing difficult challenges such as persistent poverty and increasing climatic variability. Although it has sufficient land and water resources, its success in addressing its problems depends largely on how it implements its plans and strategies for water resources.

:: The Zambezi and Congo River basins: Zambia case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 15-18.)

Recurring water-related hazards, declining freshwater availability and poisoning from naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater have undermined the health and livelihoods of millions in this densely populated country. Climate change might further aggravate this situation. Efforts to institutionalize integrated water resources management will play a significant role in reducing the burden of persistent poverty, especially among rural populations.

Prolonged drought, floods and severe pollution combined with high demand from booming agricultural, industrial and urban sectors are challenging China to take remedial measures and implement a more integrated approach to managing its water resources.

:: The Yellow River basin: China case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 24-26.)

The unique geography of the many small islands dotting the Pacific Ocean exposes them to water-related natural hazards compounded by the effects of climate change and variability, including sea level rise. Pacific island countries are struggling to build the capacity to address many challenges, such as developing coherent policy frameworks and integrated approaches to managing scarce freshwater resources.

:: Pacific Islands case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 27-30.)

The presence of a semi-nomadic population and 2 million head of livestock in the middle of a fragile desert ecosystem is encouraging the government to explore new ways to improve livelihoods by increasing availability of water resources through capture, storage and treatment.

:: The Cholistan desert: Pakistan case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 31-33.)

Efforts to respond to new pressures and expectations stemming from the economic success of this developed country include water sector reforms, while measures to address shifts in demand and competition between upstream and downstream interests would benefit from the presence of a central coordinating mechanism.

:: The Han River basin: Korea case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 33-35.)

::Taken from "Assessment of Water Development in the Han River Basin; Case Study: Republic of Korea" [182 pages, English PDF, 16.5 MB], a report written by the Korea Institute of Construction Technology at the request of the Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs in cooperation with the Korean Ministry of Environment and the Korean Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The report was prepared as a contribution to the World Water Development Report 3.

In an area hard hit by the 2004 tsunami, integrated approaches and community management of resources are examples of the tools being applied to reduce poverty and environmental degradation.

:: The Walawe River basin: Sri Lanka case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 36-39.)

Regional cooperation and moves towards efficient water use are the keys to recovering from loss of livelihoods, mass migration, rampant pollution and ecosystem damage resulting from unsustainable irrigation practices and other legacies of the past.

:: The Aral Sea basin: Uzbekistan case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 39-41.)

Through concerted efforts, water quality has been significantly improved in the basin since the 1970s, when large amounts of untreated industrial waste were being dumped into waterways. Today, both the water quality and the environmental status are much better. However, increasing industrial activities in the Russian Federation may pose a renewed risk of some degradation.

Although national regulations for water use and protection of the environment and water resources are in place, their local implementation and enforcement are generally insufficient. This poses many risks for the Po River basin, which generates nearly 40% of national GDP through intensive industry and other economic activities.

:: The Po River basin: Italy case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 51-54.)

Adapting to the reality of climate change and increased risk from floods has meant overturning centuries of reliance on big engineering solutions, returning land to nature and integrating risk management into policies based on stakeholder participation.

:: The Netherlands case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 55-57.)

With a long history of floods and a risk of drought, Basques know how important it is to plan ahead while protecting ecosystems and water quality. Building on a new regulatory framework in line with European Union directives, they are implementing strategies to anticipate, mitigate and manage these risks, along with new ones linked to climate change and variability.

In coping with the challenges and demands of a megalopolis suffering the effects of an unplanned urban boom, officials are relying on significant infrastructure investment, public information campaigns and better enforcement of city planning regulations.

:: Istanbul: Turkey case study [PDF, 3 MB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 61-63.)

The frequency and magnitude of extreme hydrological events have been increasing in the economic centre of South America over the last 40 years as a consequence of major land use changes and climatic variability, with significant social and economic costs.

:: La Plata River Basin case study [PDF, 700 KB]. (World Water Assessment Programme. 2009. The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World. Paris: UNESCO, and London: Earthscan. Pages 66-71.)